This book was in a box with a handwritten note "Free Books!" outside of my apartment. So, I took it. That, combined with the fact that I'm starting myThis book was in a box with a handwritten note "Free Books!" outside of my apartment. So, I took it. That, combined with the fact that I'm starting my third year of law school in three days, seemed to suggest that I might as well read it. It's a mass paperback type book. The firm is connected to the mob, and the new associate gets caught in the middle. There were parts when I didn't want to put it down, but it's not exactly a thought provoking piece....more

I did not know who Wangari Maathai was before hearing her speak in DC but bought tickets to see her because she was from Kenya and won a nobel peace pI did not know who Wangari Maathai was before hearing her speak in DC but bought tickets to see her because she was from Kenya and won a nobel peace prize. That's good enough bait for me. I walked away from her talk inspired by her passion and work for human good. The book is great. I was a little underwhelmed at the beginning as she established her own background. Her writing seemed nothing special, but as the book evolves and she begins her journey as an activist, her story is remarkable. Her work in womens' rights, anti-corruption, human rights, you name it, is all rooted from teaching people how to plant trees. If that's not cool, I don't know what is....more

A perfectly charming book. The main character, Mma Ramotswe, starts a detective agency in Botswana, and each chapter is a vignette of her different caA perfectly charming book. The main character, Mma Ramotswe, starts a detective agency in Botswana, and each chapter is a vignette of her different cases. A few characters span multiple chapters, and the stories give a bit of insight into modern day Botswana's balance of traditional and "modern" culture. I had no problem putting the book down for days at a time, but the thing that drew me back was the charm of Mma Ramotswe as a character. I've heard the TV series is great. I'd say the book fell a little short of great, but still an easy, happy read....more

An entertaining, quality read. Toole's development of the main character, Ignatius, and his sloth, egotistical brain, and warped view of reality is peAn entertaining, quality read. Toole's development of the main character, Ignatius, and his sloth, egotistical brain, and warped view of reality is perfectly done. There's hilarious hot dog vendor bits, an older woman's alcohol problem and love interest, and a totally uncoordinated woman perfecting her dance routine with a bird. The book dragged a bit long for me in the middle, but overall it was well worth the read....more

Awesome story. Creative biblical fiction, filling in the story of the women in the Bible. I am remarkably ignorant in biblical stories (is biblical suAwesome story. Creative biblical fiction, filling in the story of the women in the Bible. I am remarkably ignorant in biblical stories (is biblical supposed to be capitalized?), and wish I knew more to compare the lives of women of the Red Tent to those of the men and women in the Bible. I came away from the story with a renewed interest for the strength and struggles unique to women, and appreciation for the age-old and ongoing battle of feminism....more

I can appreciate the commentary the book provides on feminist struggles, but I think I would have related to Esther better during my years of teenageI can appreciate the commentary the book provides on feminist struggles, but I think I would have related to Esther better during my years of teenage angst. That being said, Plath artfully took me into Esther's mental breakdown, in a way that I could rationalize and understand the insane mind. I didn't love the book; (it actually made be a bit depressed), but it's one of those books to check off the to-do list. ...more

The story of Lev and Kolya, a scrawny, orphaned Jew and a blond haired, smooth talking ladies man, is a great quick read. Set in WWII Russia, Lev andThe story of Lev and Kolya, a scrawny, orphaned Jew and a blond haired, smooth talking ladies man, is a great quick read. Set in WWII Russia, Lev and Kolya are on a mission to find a dozen egg's for a Russian colonel's daughter's wedding cake, a seemingly impossible task in a country of starving people surviving on ration cards. Breaking up brutal deaths and depressing conditions of a war torn country is humor and a story of love and friendship. It's nice to read a WWII book not rooted in a concentration camp or Germany, but instead centered in a Russian perspective....more

I read Still Alice in a day and a half and dreamed about it the following night. As the reader, you walk with Alice, a Harvard psychology professor, fI read Still Alice in a day and a half and dreamed about it the following night. As the reader, you walk with Alice, a Harvard psychology professor, from her occasional lapse of memory – forgetting a word, or what something on her to do list meant – to confusion in a conversation to getting lost in her own neighborhood to not recognizing her own husband and children. It is a gripping book that gives a more compassionate understanding for people suffering from Alzheimer's and their caregivers. If you are looking for a book that sucks you in and makes you think, this is it....more

A story that sheds light on the interpersonal relationships, challenges, and reasons for polygamy. It's a great story that gives some historical backgA story that sheds light on the interpersonal relationships, challenges, and reasons for polygamy. It's a great story that gives some historical background on Mormonism. I'm now eager to have a good long talk with a Mormon friend to hear more about her perspective on the religion's polygamous past....more

Everyone was raving, so I picked up a copy (aka downloaded on my new kindle). The big picture idea is definitely to be applauded. It held the same appEveryone was raving, so I picked up a copy (aka downloaded on my new kindle). The big picture idea is definitely to be applauded. It held the same appeal to me as did The Giver. Beyond that, though, I wasn't too enthralled. I put the book down for a good three weeks, and only picked it up to finish it for finishings sake. A good plane or beach read, but not too much beyond that....more

There has got to be something that I am missing or just don't appreciate. I trust that Brooks has a lot to offer, as she won the Pulitzer Prize for anThere has got to be something that I am missing or just don't appreciate. I trust that Brooks has a lot to offer, as she won the Pulitzer Prize for another book, but I am not a fan.I felt like I was watching a bad play. A play where you know the actors have many layers and there are intended complex relationships, but you can't help but cringe because the actors just really aren't that good. It's one of those books that you can easily put down and not pick back up. It's hard to feel attached to the characters or storyline because they are all so disconnected. The only thing to which the reader can feel attached is the Haggadah, and I just didn't care enough about it. I applaud the varied historical contexts for each short story within the book, but it was not enough to leave me with a good taste....more

For a 900+ page book, it's a quick and easy read, mostly because it's unbelievable that the storyline is largely based on the author's real life. ThisFor a 900+ page book, it's a quick and easy read, mostly because it's unbelievable that the storyline is largely based on the author's real life. This man's life is beyond any creative imagination - escaping from Australian prison, living as a fugitive and medic in the Bombay slums, joining the Bombay mafia and working as a counterfeiter, gunrunner and street soldier, and impersonating an American to fight in the Afghan war. While the story is incredible (ridiculous fight scenes - "My fingers slid along the ridge of broken bone, greasy-wet with his blood. The broken scalp had split into three chunks. One of them was so loose that I knew it would come away in my hand if I tugged at it."), his philosophical musings on life and love are a bit too much.